U50 Comprehensive Guide to Bow DPS

[Oliphant]

Been doing the build (but don't have all the gear and augments) and at endgame now. Great job! Going pretty well but I'm still feeling like my playstyle is clunky. Any videos one could recommend of someone playing a similar build well just to see some playstyle example?

[Djjinni]

Are you using anything as a source of FOM?

This will probably be covered by the Flasks/endless amounts of potion consumables for the OP, although it's worth considering that the 'Best' gearset has a fairly optional boot slot so this makes for an alright budget swap when FoM is super important.

[achaius]

Djjinni,

Were you talking about the mysterious remnant endless potion clicky? That is the only clicky I can find for FOM. The boot swap is what I do when I don’t have a party member to cast it on me, but was also wondering if there are other options for FOM that I could learn through suggestions on here. There is plenty of obscure stuff I don’t know about.

[Djjinni]

Djjinni,

Were you talking about the mysterious remnant endless potion clicky? That is the only clicky I can find for FOM. The boot swap is what I do when I don’t have a party member to cast it on me, but was also wondering if there are other options for FOM that I could learn through suggestions on here. There is plenty of obscure stuff I don’t know about.

That's the one, Flask of Free Movement I believe for 10k remnants when the Vendor is up. This combined with DW pots/clickies is usually the way those are covered. I'd be interested in other solutions though, as FoM is a relatively guarded effect, and getting caught by something on a build like this usually hurts.

[Epicsoul]

Been doing the build (but don't have all the gear and augments) and at endgame now. Great job! Going pretty well but I'm still feeling like my playstyle is clunky. Any videos one could recommend of someone playing a similar build well just to see some playstyle example?

The build is 'clunky' compared to pure ranger, but there's a higher reward ceiling for maximizing this current iteration. I don't have a video, but it took me roughly 1-2 weeks at cap to be aware of everything at my disposal.

[Carpone]

Stealth Strike is Insightful, dark diversion is enhancement so they stack.

Both aren't needed for threat reduction.

[Codect]

Firstly, thanks for sharing the build. Very useful for us who want a capable ranged toon in our back pocket for when it is needed.

Some observations from looking into why my ranged power numbers dont quite match up:

1. Imp. Archers Focus from Horizon Walker gives +10% doubleshot, not ranged power
2. Shattered Device 2 piece bonus is +3 to hit/dmg, not +5 ranged power
3. Shadowstrike: Deception (Rare) appears bugged, it is not granting the +2 ranged power

Total of -19 ranged power currently

[Meficio]

I'm just here to thank and congratulate Carpone for his awesome post yet again.
What a champion you are.
This guide answers all my questions and more.
He's not even forcing to do this guide. it all comes natural for him that's how his brain is organized.
We all 'bow'.

[achaius]

Lam preview:
Not sure how I feel about the new Shiradi tree. Is all the caster stuff in there for alchemists? Right now I’m playing with shadowdancer tree primarily on test. Each core gives 8rp and 1 sa die. The points that have to go into hunts end to get it to what looks like 225% damage and all the points needed to upgrade pin which looks like it was combined with otto’s whistler. The capstone seems like it wants to use imp precise shot to run around and clear tons of trash with no penalties and 30 rp I’ll buff for 30 sec. Not sure what other tree to use yet. Extra action boosts is tier 2 on dreadnaught. So maybe that. Anyone else looking at this?

I’m glad that got rid of all the charged ****, but not sure they are there yet.

[Hobgoblin]

i didnt see this in the guide. it is implied in the enhancements, but scattershot is nothing compared to manyshot. dont take it.


leveling this build and loving it. thanks for writing this up!


for new people out there - this may not be the build you want to start out with for bows - it takes a little while to get going and does take some resources behind it - gear mostly but the past lives really help. you can do it without them, but its kinda pain to level em till you have the gear.

[Oliphant]

Great work!

Been messing with Horizon Walker for a few months now. First life at it I started my last racials (wood elf). I tried out pure ranger for some control case then worked through two more racial lives doing close variants of Capone's version and then now on a new wood elf life after taking racial completionist trying to get as close to Capone's version as possible. Got it leveled up to 30 and been working out the rough edges on the build. Managed to pull together the "best" gear set minus the Cunning set augments and the profane +2 augment. Ended up switching out Thorn Boots for the Crocodile Skin boots which opened up an augment slot, FOM and upped my CON +1 to even. I also like having a token piece from Saltmarsh in there. I'm not sure if I'm playing it right yet or not. In R8s I'm able to finish off most mobs and don't have to worry about narrowly failing to kill before they get to me but on R10 I'm close but not quite to that point and it's a lot more dangerous.

One question: How am I getting True Seeing? I thought I had it with the best set but then was missing shots recently due to blurry. Was weird because I swear I've been on same gear set for several days and did not notice any missing to blurry.

Less important question: Anything about Thorn Boots I'm missing? They seem to provide 1 or 1.5 damage boost basically compared to Crocodile boots.

[Hobgoblin]

First off for anyone looking at playing this - dont solo with it. it is fairly slow to solo, but is beyond awesome in groups. Note that im not saying it cant solo, but when you compare it to inq or sorc or arti, they level a lot quicker.

Carpone - thanks for the awesome build! only thing i want to change is to somehow work in ips - maybe drop wf: thrown for it? would give a nice bump to aoe for leveling..... but thats more of my playstyle as i tend to solo a lot.










looking at gear to use while im gathering stuff for any of the 3 gear sets. i guess i start with good and hope the best stuff drops

i threw this together just from what i had in shared bank:


helm: leg wallwatch
neck: leg family recruit
back: leg cloak of spring
Belt: direwolf
Ring: sigil of the triumvirate
hands: leg wildwood
boots: leg deepsnow
ring: leg ring of prowess
bracers: leg hallowed castigators
Armor: leg wildwood
eyes: van richten spectacles


I know this needs work and what i should be working towards is the best gear set - but what can i change immediatly to get some benifit? i had the castigators in there for sheltering and devotion, but i find myself using cocoon less and less. im also not sure about the belt and the goggles slot.

suggestions welcome!

[Oliphant]

i threw this together just from what i had in shared bank:

helm: leg wallwatch
neck: leg family recruit
back: leg cloak of spring
Belt: direwolf
Ring: sigil of the triumvirate
hands: leg wildwood
boots: leg deepsnow
ring: leg ring of prowess
bracers: leg hallowed castigators
Armor: leg wildwood
eyes: van richten spectacles

Observations:

• Family Recruit Symbol competence damage does not stack with Ring of Prowess.
• Wallwatch Circlet competence attack does not stack with Ring of Prowess.
• Wallwatch Circlet resistance reflex does not stack with Van Richten's Specs.
• Wallwatch Circlet enhancement doubleshot does not stack with Van Richten's Specs.
• Cloak of Spring and Van Richten's Specs enhancement dexterity not stacking with Sigil of Triumvirate.
• Van Richten's Specs currently only yield the 34 enhancement MRR for you.
• Everything else is stacking as far as I can tell.

What are your trinket and weapon currently?

Do you have a Silent Avenger set? Only asking because otherwise can lock the Wallwatch as necessary probably for now.

Here's one set I came up with just for some ideas:

• Family's Blessing you don't have but it's kind of optional now with Black Dragon Tasset belt. It provides more fort bypass.
• Bloodbark Bracers is a min-max thing for last bit of DPS with improved deception and covers 15% range haste boost, pretty optional.
• Not an exhaustive look by any means and surely lacking compared to Carpone's sets, but more stuff maybe have or get sooner.

Eye:Legendary Sight of the Sleepwalker
Head:Legendary Wallwatch Circlet
Neck:The Family's Blessing
Trinket:Legendary Subtle Sound
Body:Legendary Wildwood Vest
Back:Legendary Cloak of Balance{quality Dexterity 3}
Wrist:Bloodbark Bracers
Waist:Legendary Black Dragonscale Tasset
Finger1:Sigil of the Triumvirate
Feet:Legendary Deepsnow Boots
Hand:Legendary Wildwood Gauntlets
Finger2:Legendary Ring of Prowess

Acid Resistance 50
Acid Spell Power 98
Armor Class 59
Assassinate DC 3
Attack 38
Augment Slot
Blackscale Ferocity
Bluff 5
Cold Spell Power 98
Concealment 25
Confirm Critical Hits 22
Constitution 9
Critical Hit Damage 22
Damage 19
Dexterity 17
Dodge 13
Doubleshot 28
Doublestrike 18
Electric Spell Power 98
Fire Spell Power 98
Force Spell Power 98
Fortification 142
Fortification Bypass 55
Fortitude 16
Freedom of Movement
Hit Points 50
Improved Deception
Light Spell Power 98
Melee Attack Speed 15
Melee Power 8
Missile Deflection 10
Move Speed 30
Negative Spell Power 98
Physical Resistance Rating 33
Poison Spell Power 98
Positive Healing Amplification 53
Positive Spell Power 98
Raging Strength 3
Ranged Attack Speed 15
Ranged Power 28
Ranged Threat Reduction 20
Reflex 16
Relentless Fury
Repair Spell Power 98
Sneak Attack Attack 15
Sneak Attack Damage 23
Sneak Attack Dice 3
Sonic Absorption 37
Sonic Spell Power 98
Tendon Slice 10
Use Magic Device 5
Will 6

[Oliphant]

^^^ Note the stats above assume no augments, so CON for example is missing 12-15 points.

[Oliphant]

Might have botched Dexterity in the last one but those items are still stacking well and interesting.

Here's another set with more dex. I deleted some irrelevant stat info this time. Take the gears sets with grain of salt, more about highlighting a few items.

Compared to previous set:

• -3 confirm critical
• -3 critical damage
• +10 deadly
• +5 dexterity
• +FF
• -9 fort bypass
• +ghostly
• -improved deception
• -10 missle deflection
• +4 ranged threat reduction
• -5 sneak attack
• -8 sneak attack damage

Eye:Legendary Sight of the Sleepwalker
Head:Legendary Wallwatch Circlet
Neck:Epic Lizardfolk Tooth Necklace
Trinket:Legendary Crocodile Tooth
Body:Legendary Wildwood Vest
Back:Legendary Cloak of Balance{quality Dexterity 3}
Wrist:Epic Ethereal Bracers
Waist:Legendary Outpost Sniper's Belt
Finger1:Sigil of the Triumvirate
Feet:Legendary Deepsnow Boots
Hand:Legendary Wildwood Gauntlets
Finger2:Legendary Ring of Prowess

Armor Class 59
Attack 38
Concealment 25
Confirm Critical Hits 19
Constitution 9
Crippling
Critical Hit Damage 19
Damage 19
Deadly 10
Dexterity 23
Dodge 13
Doubleshot 28
Feather Falling
Fortification 142
Fortification Bypass 46
Fortitude 16
Freedom of Movement
Ghostly
Hit Points 50
Move Speed 30
Negative Spell Power 98
Physical Resistance Rating 33
Positive Healing Amplification 53
Positive Spell Power 98
Ranged Attack Speed 15
Ranged Power 28
Ranged Threat Reduction 24
Reflex 16
Relentless Fury
Sneak Attack Attack 10
Sneak Attack Damage 15
Sneak Attack Dice 3
Strength 9
Sunder DC 11
Tendon Slice 10
Will 6

[Oliphant]

Original gear set for comparison, but with Guided Sight trinket added. Makes me want to run Riding the Storm Out!

This a nice set you made. Definitely more defense and healing than my sets. My sets could have slight edge on DPS but if you find you are missing much, this set might win on DPS since it appears to have higher attack with the Guided Sight +7 quality attack. The item is useful on other sets too of course. Too much info already from me, but hope some of it is interesting. Good to have options when you don't every piece of gear yet.

Eye:Van Richten's Spectacles
Head:Legendary Wallwatch Circlet
Neck:Legendary Family Recruit Sigil
Trinket:Guided Sight
Body:Legendary Wildwood Vest
Back:Legendary Cloak of Spring
Wrist:Legendary Hallowed Castigators
Waistirewolf Belt
Finger1:Sigil of the Triumvirate
Feet:Legendary Deepsnow Boots
Hand:Legendary Wildwood Gauntlets
Finger2:Legendary Ring of Prowess

Armor Class 72
Attack 45
Concealment 25
Confirm Critical Hits 6
Constitution 9
Critical Hit Damage 6
Damage 19
Dexterity 20
Diplomacy 11
Dodge 13
Doubleshot 32
Electric Absorption 34
Empower Healing Spell Point Reduction 2
Fortification 142
Fortification Bypass 45
Fortitude 16
Freedom of Movement
Hit Points 50
Magical Resistance Rating 51
Melee Power 8
Physical Resistance Rating 75
Positive Healing Amplification 53
Positive Spell Critical Chance 21
Positive Spell Power 142
Ranged Power 28
Ranged Threat Reduction 34
Reflex 17
Relentless Fury
Sneak Attack Attack 10
Sneak Attack Damage 15
Sneak Attack Dice 3
Sonic Absorption 37
Tendon Slice 10
True Seeing
Will 6

[Carpone]

Didn't look at the Lam changes at all. Been away from the game for a month as there's nothing to do. With U51 having no new content, don't see a reason to come back anytime soon. Most of my guild has moved over to Final Fantasy 14. It's amazing to play a game that eliminated lag and has an actual player base. I could barely be bothered to login this week to do R5 LOB 9-man (where all DPS were this ranged build) and R6 LOB 10-man (same + knocker). Knocked each out on the first try.

> One question: How am I getting True Seeing?

Scroll it.

> Anything about Thorn Boots I'm missing? They seem to provide 1 or 1.5 damage boost basically compared to Crocodile boots.

Croc Boots are a swap item at best for something like LOB if you don't have a caster to provide it. Or use an eternal flask.

[Oliphant]

I could barely be bothered to login this week to do R5 LOB 9-man (where all DPS were this ranged build) and R6 LOB 10-man (same + knocker).

Yeah, between them nerfing away any hope of flavors at endgame, and your build existing, most have just moved onto meta dps endgame builds.

[Carpone]

**Preview** U51 Bow Guide based on the latest Lamannia.

Minor gear changes:
Legendary Red Dragonscale armor
Ruby of Good (Stay Good no longer provides Good bypass)
Listen and Spot augments for revamped Otto/Pin DCs
100% Fortification aug for 145% Fortification total (augment + Martial Fortification PLs x3 + Bladeforged PLs x3).

Also includes minor corrections provided by Codect.

[Rull]

those delta numbers don't look right at all.

napkin math would give me:
(216×2.2×(100+377)÷100+134×(100+1.5×377)÷100 )
+1 dmg (217×2.2×(100+377)÷100+134×(100+1.5×377)÷100 ) is a 0.33% dps increase
+1 sneak damage (216×2.2×(100+377)÷100+135×(100+1.5×377)÷100 ) is a 0.21% dps increase
+1 RP (216×2.2×(100+378)÷100+134×(100+1.5×378)÷100 ) is a 0.21% dps increase

it's a short napkin, so it assumes full fort bypass, 0 nonscaling damage and 0 seeker. But that can hardly account for such a huge difference particularly in sneak attack damage.

shall I check your calculations?